Tufting machine



S. P. PARKER TUFTING MACHINE Oct. 18, 1949.

FiledJune 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 o t Q Q i x I a] I: P

INVENTOR (SAMUEL'F? PARKER ATTo EYs 1, N49. 5. P. PARKER 2545,1153

TUFTING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR SAMUEL P PARKER ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE TUFTING MACHINE Samuel P. Parker, La Grange, Ga., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Callaway Mills 'Company, La Grange, Ga... a corporation of Georgia Application June 22, 1946, Serial No. 678,603

18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for inserting tufts of yarn or thread in a backing material and is concerned more particularly with a novel tufting machine, which can :be operated with facility for the insertion of tufts to produce either simple or intricate designs. The new machine functions in such manner that the operator may insert tufts in the backing material along curved lines or in any lateral direction at will and without stopping the machine or turning the material, so that the machine may be operated on such work at a higher output rate than prior tufting machines. The new machine is simple in construction and may be easily maintained in good working order.

Tufting machines, as heretofore constructed, have commonly included a needle for passing the loops of yarn through the backing fabric and a looper for engaging each loop so inserted by the needle and holding it as the needle is retracted. The loops are ultimately severed to produce tufts and, in some machines, the looper is formed with a cutting edge and the loops accumulate on the looper, until the addition of another loop causes the first preceding uncut loop to be moved over the cutting edge and severed. In other machines, cutting means independent of the looper are employed and the cutting devices are actuated at the proper times to sever the yarns and produce the tufts. In the prior machines, it is common to hold the material being tufted against a throat plate having an opening, through which the needle passes, and to feed the backing material over the plate by a mechanically operated feed dog. As the feeding device advances the material in one direction only with reference to the needle, a change in the direction of the row of tufts to be inserted can only be effected by stopping the machine, releasing the presser foot, turning the material as required, lowering the presser foot, and starting the machine. Such machines can, accordingly, be used only with dificulty in-the production of articles tufted in intricate designs.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a tufting machine which overcomes the difficulties involved in the operation of prior machines and enables the operator to insert tufts in the backing material in any direction, as desired, and without stopping the machine or turning the material. In the new machine, the backing material is held in place only for a part of each reciprocation of the needle and is then released, so that the operator may shift it as he wishes. Although each loop inserted is severed before another loop is passed through the material, each loop is retained in place by the looper while the needle is being retracted, so that the loop is not pulled free of the backing.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a tufting machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the machine in end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2-, with some parts broken away and others shown in plan;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 .of Fig. 2, with parts shown in plan;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the parts in different positions; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary vertical sectional views showing the operation of severing a loop.

The tufting machine illustrated in the drawings includes the usual .bed ID, from one end of which rises a standard ll provided with an arm l2 which overhangs the bed and terminates in a head l3 at its free end. A horizontal drive shaft [4 extends through the arm I2 and projects into the head at one end and out of the arm at the other. The shaft is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings and carries a drive pulley l5 and a hand wheel It on the end exposed beyond the arm. A cam member I! for operating a tension device, which forms no part of the invention, is mounted on the end of the shaft l4 within head l3, and a cam plate I8 is mounted on the shaft against the outer face of the cam member. An eccentric pin l9 extends outwardly from the face of cam plate l8 and is connected by a link 20 to a pin 2| attached by means of a clamp 22 to a needle bar 23 mounted for vertical reciprocation in aligned openings in head I3. At the lower end of the bar, a needle 24 is removably secured thereto.

The end Illa. of the bed beneath the head I3 is of tubular form and a curved throat plate 25 is secured on top of the tubular part of the bed and projects beyond the end of the bed. The plate has an opening 25a aligned with the needle, and, when the needle bar and needle are reciprocated, the needle passes through the opening. A rod 26, mounted in aligned openings in head 13 and extending parallel to the needle bar, carries a presser foot 21 at its lower end, the foot having an opening 21a through which the needle passes in its reciprocation. A clamp 28 is mounted on rod 26 within the head l3 and springs 29 and 30 a slot in a. rod 32 which projects through an opening in the top wall of the head, and lies with its lower end above the edge of the cam disk l6. As shaft l4 rotates, it reciprocates the needle bar and needle vertically, and the cam disk l6 acts through pin 32 to raise the rod 26 and presser foot 21 once per revolution of the shaft. The mechanism is so timed that the presser foot lies in its down position until after the needle has been raised free of the foot, after which the rod 26 and the foot are raised. The rod and foot are then permitted to move downwardly just before the point of the needle enters the opening 21a in the presser foot.

The clamp 26 on the presser foot rod 26 is provided with an arm 33, which may be engaged by a cam surface on the tail 34 of a handle 35 pivotally mounted on a portion of the head. When the handle 35 is swung clockwise (Fig. 2), the tail bears against arm 33 and raises rod 26 and presser foot 21. When the handle is turned far enough, the flat end of tail 34 engages arm 33, so that the presser foot is held in raised position, until the handle is turned to release it. i

A rock shaft 36 is mounted for oscillation in downward projections 31, 36 from the bed HI, and at one end, the rock shaft carries a collar 36, from which extends an arm 40 provided with a pin Al, on which is mounteda roller 62. The roller lies in a channel 43 on an arm 46 which is loosely mounted on a rod 45 supported between extension 31 and another downward extension 66 from the bottom of the bed. The arm 44 is provided with a pin 41, to which is attached one end of a connecting rod 48, the other end of the rod being mounted on a crank pin 49 connecting crank arms 50, 50 on the drive shaft H. As the drive shaft rotates, it causes arm 64 to oscillate and this in turn causes oscillation of the rock shaft 36.

A flat ring is mounted in the tubular end of the bed l0. and a disk 52 is mounted loosely on the rock shaft 36 within ring 5|, and held in place by a nut 53 on the end of the shaft. The disk is formed with a slot 56 extending inwardly from its edge, and a looper is mounted on the disk at one side of the slot. The looper comprises a plate 55 provided with a hook 56 at its outer end, the plate being mounted in a channel in the face of disk 52. Plate 55 is formed with a slot 55a through which extends a screw 61 threaded into disk 52, the slot and screw mounting permitting the position of the plate with reference to the disk to be varied as desired. In the operation of the machine, disk 52 is oscillated and the plane of oscillation of the looper is substantially tangent to the path of reciprocation of the needle. so that hook 56 may enter a loop of yarn carried by the needle.

The ring 5| is formed in its outer face at its top with a radial channel 56 through which the needle may pass, and a cutting block 53 is mounted against the outer face of the ring at one side of the channel. The hook 56 of the looper is provided with a cutting edge 66. which is adapted to cooperate with one edge of the cutting block to effect a shear cut.

A pair of pins 6|, 62 extend outward from the rear face of disk 52 and lie in diametrical relation at opposite sides of shaft 36. These pins are engageable by enlarged heads on rods 63, 66 which are mounted in openings in guides 65 in a block 66 attached to the lower end of extension 36 from the bed. The lower end of each rod 63, 66 is shouldered and the reduced end portion enters one end of a spring 61 which lies within a bore in block 66 and is seated at its lower end against the bottom of the bore. Springs 61 are of equal force, and act through rods 63, 66 on pins 6|, 62 to-maintain disk 52 with the pins in horizontal alignment. When the disk 52 is in this angular positiohfthe looper extends vertically, as

shown in Fig. 6, with the side of the plate 65 from which hook 56 extends, substantially in alignment with the axis of the needle.

A central hub 66 extends rearwardly from disk 52 to encircle rock shaft 36 and the hub is formed with a single radial projection 66. A collar 16 is mounted fast on shaft 36 adjacent the rear face of the hub and the collar has a recess in one face into which the projection 66 extends. The recess is defined by spaced radial shoulders 1|, 12.

The rock shaft 36 is encircled by spring 13 which is compressed between a collar 16 fast on the shaft and one face of the extension 31 from the bed. A pin 15 mounted in extension 31 projects beyond one face thereof and, as shaft 36 rocks, the end of the pin is engaged by a roller 16 loosely mounted on a pin 11 mounted in collar 36. As the roller rides over the end of the pin, shaft 36 is caused to move to the right (Fig. 1) against the action ofspring 13.

In the operation of the machine, the presser foot is first raised above the throat plate by handie 35 and the hand wheel I6 is turned to move the needle to its upper position. The material to be tufted is then placed on the throat plate with the point where the first stitch is to be made over the opening in the throat plate, after which handle 35 is turned to release the presser foot and the machine is started. As shaft I4 is rotated, the needle is vertically reciprocated, and, as the needle approaches the material on the throat plate, the cam disk i6 has moved to a position such that spring 26 is free to move rod 26 downwardly to cause the presser foot 21 to clamp the material against the throat plate. While the needle is passing a loop of yarn through the material on the throat plate, the disk 52 is being held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by engagement of shoulder 1| on collar 10 on the rock shaft.

In this position of disk 52, pin 6| lies free of the enlarged head on the spring-pressed rod 63, while pin 62 has been moved to depress rod 64 against the action of its spring 61. When the needle reaches its lowermost position, the rock shaft begins to move counterclockwise (Fig. 5) and, as shoulder 1| tends to move away from projection 66, the projection is kept in contact with the shoulder by the action of spring-pressed rod 66 on pin 62. Disk 52 is, accordingly, moved to cause the hook 56 to enter the loop of yarn carried by the needle, and, as the needle rises, the loop is held by the hook. When the disk 52 reaches the position in which its pins 6|, 62 are remains at rest, until shoulder 12 on collar 16 engages projection 69 and causes the projection and disk 52 to move with it.

During the interval, in which disk 52 is at rest, the needle has moved upwardly and is clear of the material, and, when the needle reaches its uppermost position, the movement of disk 52 by engagement of shoulder 12 on collar 10 with projection 69 on the disk is resumed. The loop of yarn held by the hook 56 is then carried along by the hook and the loop slides along the hook to overlie the cuttin edge 60 on the hook. As the cutting edge approaches the edge of the cutting block 59, the roller 16 on pin 11 carried by collar 39 on the rock shaft rides over the end of the pin 15 and this causes the rock shaft to be moved endwise, so that the cutting edge 50 on the hook cooperates with the edge of the cutting block to sever the yarn with a shear cut.

When the needle has been moved free of the material and is approaching its uppermost position, the presser foot 21 is raised to release the material. The operator then shifts the material over the throat plate to bring the next point on the material, where a tuft is to be inserted. into alignment with the needle. Meanwhile, upon completion of the severance of the loop, the rock shaft starts to return to its original position and, during that movement, projection 89 is kept in contact with the shoulder 12 on collar 10 until plate 52 reaches the position in which pins GI. 62 are horizontally aligned. The plate then remains at rest, until shoulder ll on,collar I engages projection 69 and causes a further movement of plate 52 to the position shown in Fig. 5. During the return movement of the plate, the needle is again descending, and, as it approaches the material, the presser foot is lowered to clamp the material against the throat plate to permit the insertion of another tuft.

It will be seen that the new tuftin machine is so constructed that, during a part of the reciprocation of the needle and while the needle is free of the material, the presser foot is raised from the material so that the operator can shift the material in any direction. Accordingly, he can insert a succession of tufts along a curved line or in any lateral direction without turning of the material. Each loop inserted is held by the hook of the looper, as the needle rises, to prevent the inserted loop from being withdrawn, and. as the needle approaches its topmost position, the loop is severed and the looper moves back ready to function when the next loop has been inserted. The path of oscillation of the plate 55 lies substantially tangent to the path of travel of the needle at one point, and the disk 52 is biased to hold plate 55 in its tangential relation to the path of travel of the needle. The shoulders ll, 12 on collar 10 act to move disk 52 positively from that central position only toward the ends of its path of oscillation and the return movement of disk 52 to its central position is produced by the biasing means acting upon it. The projection 69 and collar 10 provide a lost-motion connection between the rock shaft 36 and plate 52 and, by virtue of this connection and the biasing means acting on the plate, the looper oscillates with a period of rest in the middle of its movement in both directions.

I claim:

1. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of means operating alternately to hold the material against movement relative to the plate and to release the material, a looper having a cutting edge, a member with which the cutting edge cooperates to effects. shear cut, and means :for

operating the looper to cause it to enter successive loops of yarn carried through the material by the needle, to hold each loop until the needle has moved clear of the material, and to cooperate with the member to sever the loop.

2. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of means operating alternately to hold the material against movement relative to the plate and to release the material, a looper having a cutting edge and mounted to oscillate about an axis at an angle to the path of travel of the needle. a member with which the cutting edgecooperates, and means for oscillating the looper to cause it to enter successive loops of yarn carried through the material by the needle and to cooperate with the member to sever the loops, said means causing the looper to come to rest at the middle of its movement in one direction to hold the loop until the needle has moved clear of the material.

3. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which i the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loopsof yarn through the material, the combination of means operating alternately to hold the material against movement relative to the plate andto release the material, a looper having a cutting edge and mounted to oscillate about an axis at an angle to the path of travel of the needle,

material by the needle and to cooperate with the member to sever the loops, said means causing the looper to come to rest after entering each loop to hold the loop until the needle has moved clear of the material, and means for causing a relative shifting movement of the looper and member to bring the cutting edge and member into cooperative relation.

4. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of means operating alternately to hold the material against movement relative to the plate and to release the material, a looper having a cutting edge and mounted to oscillate about an axis at an angle to the path of travel of the needle, means biasing the looper toward a position at the middle of its path of oscillation, a member with which the cutting edge cooperates, and means for positively moving the looper from said position toward opposite ends only of said path, said biasing and moving means being constructed to cause the looper to advance toward the needle and enter the loop, to remain at rest until the needle has moved clear of the material, and to advance to cooperating relation with the member.

5. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through .an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combinaa member with which the cutting edge cooperates, means for oscillating the looper to cause it to enter successive loops of yarn carried through the sales against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrylns loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a looper mounted to oscillate about an axis at an angle to the path of travel of the needle, and means for causing the looper to oscillate with a period of rest in the middle of its movement in at least one direction.

'7. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening inthe plate, for carrying "loops of Yarn through the material, the combina- I tion of a looper mounted for movement back and forth along a curved path f-which lies" substantially tangentat one'point to t'he path of travel of the needla-and means for moving the looper with a period of rest at said point.

8. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a looper mounted for movement back and forth along a path which lies substantially tangent atone point to the path of travel of the needle, spring means for biasing the looper toward said point, and means for positively moving the looper only from said point toward opposite ends of its path,- said means to permit the looper to have a period of rest at said point.

- 9'. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a looper mounted for oscillation about an axis along a path lying substantially tangent at one point to the path of travel of the needle, spring means acting on the looper on opposite sides of its axis of oscillation and biasing the looper toward said point, and means operable to move the looper positively only away from said point toward the ends of its path, said moving means disengaging the looper to permit it to have a period of rest at said point.

. 10. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a rock shaft, a looper mounted for oscillation about the axis of the shaft along a path which is substantially tangent at one point to the path of travel of the needle, spring means biasing the looper toward said point, and means on the shaft operable on the looper and positively moving it only outwardly from said point toward the ends of its path.

11. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a rock shaft, a looper mounted for oscillation. about the axis of the shaft along a path being constructed which is substantially tangent at one point to the path of travel of the needle, the looper having a cutting edge, spring means biasing the looper toward said point, means on the shaft operable on the looper and positively'moving it only outwardly from said point toward the'ends of itspath, a member with which the cutting edge cooperates to effect a cut, and means for causinz a relative shifting movement ofthe looper and member, when the looper is moving toward one end of its path, to cause the cutting edge and member to cooperate to effect a cut.

12. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a rock shaft, a looper mounted for free rotation on the shaft but restrained against movementalongthe'shaft; the plane of '1 rotation of the'looper'lying' substantially tangent thepath of'travel of the needle, spring means acting on the looper at diametrical points and biasing it toward the path of'travel of the needie, and an element mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and having angularly spaced working surfaces alternately operable on the looper, as the shaft rocks, said element causing positive movement of the looper only away from the path of travel of the needle.

13. In a tufting machine having a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests and means, including a reciprocating needle passing through an opening in the plate, for carrying loops of yarn through the material, the combination of a rock shaft, a looper mounted for free rotation on the shaft but restrained against movement along the shaft, the looper having a cutting edge and the plane of rotation of the looper lying substantially tangent to the path of travel of the needle, spring means acting on the looper and biasing it toward the path of travel of the needle, an element mounted on the shaft and having angularly spaced working surfaces alternately operable on the looper, as the shaft rocks, said element causing the looper to move only away from the path of travel of the needle, a member adapted to cooperate with the cutting edge to cause the edge to effect a cut, and means for moving the shaft endwise to brin the cutting edge and member into cooperative relation.

14. In a tufting machine, the combination of a drive shaft, a needle bar reciprocated by the drive shaft, a needle mounted on the needle bar, a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests, the throat plate having an opening through which the needle passes, a rock shaft connected to the drive shaft to be rocked thereby. a looper movable in a plane substantially tangent at one point to the path of travel of the needle, means biasing the looper toward said point, and a connection between the looper and the rock shaft through which the rock shaft moves the looper only away from said point in opposite directions in alternation with a period of rest at said point.

15. In a tufting machine, the combination of a drive shaft, a needle bar reciprocated by the drive shaft, a needle mounted on the needle bar, a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests, the throat plate having an opening through which the needle passes, a men shaft connected to the drive shaft to be rocked thereby, a looper movable in a plane substantially tangent at one point to the path of travel of the needle, means biasing the looper toward said point, a connection between the looper and the rock shaft through which the rock shaf t moves the looper only away from said point in opposite directions in alternation with a period of rest at said point, means for holding the material against the throat plate, and means operated by the drive shaft for causing the holding means to be alternately effective and ineffective.

16. In a tufting machine, the combination of a needle bar, a needle mounted on the needle bar, a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests, the throat plate having an opening through which the needle passes, a drive shaft for reciprocating the needle bar, a rock shaft, a disk loosely mounted on the rock shaft, a looper mounted on the disk and having a cutting edge, the looper being movable with the disk in a plane substantially tangent to the path of reciprocation of the needle with the needle bar, spring means acting on the disk at diametrical points and tending to hold the disk with the looper in a position extending along the path of travel of the needle, and a lost-motion connection between the rock'shaft and the disk, through which the rock shaft positively moves the disk and looper only away from said position with a period ofrest at said position.

17. In a tufting machine, the combination of a needle bar, a needle mounted on the needle bar, a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests, the throat plate having an opening through which the needle passes, a drive shaft for reciprocating the needle bar, a rock shaft, a disk loosely mounted on the rock shaft,

travel of the needle, a memberadjacent the path of travel of the looper with which said cutting edge cooperates to effect a cut, and a lost-motion connection between the rock shaft and the disk, through which the rock shaft positively moves the disk and looper only away from said position with a period of rest at said position.

18. In a tufting machine, the combination of a needle bar, a needle mounted on the needle bar, a throat plate against which the material to be tufted rests, the throat plate having an opening through which the needle passes, a drive shaft for reciprocating the needle bar, a rock shaft, a disk loosely mounted on the rock shaft,

a looper mounted on the disk and having a cutting edge, the looper being movable with the disk in a plane substantially tangent to the path of reciprocation of the needle with the needle bar,

spring means acting on the disk at diametrical only away from said position with a period of.

rest at said position, and means for shifting the rock shaft endwise as the looper approaches said member to cause said cutting edge member to effect a shear cut.

SAMUEL P. PARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,169,236 Carr Jan. 25, 1916 1,917,334 Smith July 11, 1933 2,386,840 Colegrove Oct. 16, 1945 

